You can satisfy your GAS attack by going with the best of the best: A D500 to replace your D7000 . . . And . . . A D850 to replace your D610 . . .
I grew up in Illinois farmland and it seems like we'd have a thunder storm every afternoon . . . Didn't bother me then. . . . Now, living in Anchorage AK for the last 35 years where we might get a little thunder and lightening once every 5 years or so . . . . Whenever we go down to the lower 48 and encounter thunder storms . . . It scares us . . .
I like the Tamron lenses. I have the 18-270 on my D5500 and the 18-400 on my D500. The D5500 with the 18-270 is a smaller and lighter set up. I'd rather have the 18mm on the wide end because it gives you a better option for wider shots. The 28mm on a crop sensor gives you a 42mm full frame field of view which is very close to a normal view and not really very wide at all. The wider angle of view with the 18mm is more useful for me . . . .
Mine is stiff from about 35-200 . . . it has always been this way. I've read several reviews on this lens where they mention this. it might be due in part to it's weather proofing. I'd rather have it a little stiff than too loose. Just have to live with it . . . still a pretty good lens . . .
I have that lens . . . It's very sharp . . . I use it mostly for photo copying old pictures and documents . . . I think it might also be good for landscapes, but haven't tried it in that role yet . . .
I think the internal padded dividers and external pockets are the best features to look for . . . The style, shape, carry capacity can differ greatly depending on your needs, but the protection and organization ability in a bag are what I'm looking for . . .
I have the Tokina 11-16 for my D500 . . . I like it . . . It's very sharp . . .
Mine is 1 year old . . . Left side and left top and top screen only . . . No buttons on right . . .
Stewarts Camera in Anchorage gets my business . . . They are great . . . If they don't have what I'm looking for, then B&H . . .
I like #2 a little better . . .
I have Arca-Swiss heads on all my tripods/monopod. . . All my cameras and some other things (scopes, flash, etc.) have the arca swiss plates on them.
I would go with a Nikon D3400 bundle. Bag, strap, battery & charger, camera body, and 2 lenses (usually a 18-55 and 70-300 or something similar) is usually around $600 at Best Buy or Costco . . .
Lever is easier and quicker , but I'm always afraid i'll catch it on something and open it up . . . . so I go with screw knob . . . .
I use a Wemberly Sidekick gimble that fits on your ballhead. It is great for long lenses that have a lens collar and foot, but doesn't work for mounting to the camera body . . . in that case i just remove the sidekick and use the ball head . . .